PotsandPlots

Since starting SixOnSaturday, I have enjoyed taking my photo from the same position, on a Saturday morning. It’s been an interesting way to see the garden progress through the year.

I think I’m going to have to start taking the photo on a Friday afternoon (or get up earlier on Saturday) because as we enter June the sun now rises early, reaching above the trees to bleach everything out.

Readers in the UK will be aware that the last seven days have been unseasonably warm. It’s all we’ve talked about. I have spent much of the week watering and moving pots out of the sunshine. I have mostly been successful, but there was an early casualty in the war on warm.

SixOnSaturday is curated by Jim at Garden Ruminations, and you can find the participation guidelines here.

1. Today is the penultimate day of May. Once again, I have been participating in No Mow May, in hope of promoting insects and wildlife. As usual, I’m torn between buffing my biodiversity credentials and the need to tidy things up.

The sprays of heuchera and grass that’s gone to seed are rather pleasant, though. Will I be out there on June 1st, slicing it all down? Maybe – or perhaps I’ll grin and bear it. I have noticed a few more interesting plants growing in the lawn than in previous years, so perhaps persistence pays off.

2. Last week’s most popular photo was the of a bumble bee. So, I’m thrilled to be able to offer another, this time on my purple rhododendron that also featured last week. It hasn’t enjoyed the heat and sunshine but has been teeming with bees. At one point I counted nine buzzy friends visiting simultaneously.

3. Clematis are probably my favorite plants. I have 3 growing in pots, and I’m gradually learning how to get the best out of them. Two are in bloom, and the third is growing like mad. I hadn’t expected that as it was confined to a pot it would grow so tall.

4. A few weekends ago, I made up my pots with bedding plants. The selection at the garden centre seemed smaller than usual, but there were lots of petunias. These always look so cheerful and I love the darker varieties, especially those that look like a starfield. They’re exactly what I would have chosen at the age of 5 and not much has changed in the intervening 50 years!

5. I’m not sure what this plant is. I pinched it from my sister’s garden as she has loads of them. The leaves look vaguely iris-like. Her’s were growing under some big bushes she had, so I stuck it in the shadiest part of the garden, where it looks rather splendid.

6. It’s important on the internet not to make everything look amazing. No instagram perfection here! While most of the garden is doing well, sometimes plants just give up. My lovely red heavenly bamboo is not at all well.

This leaf drop occurred before the very very hot weather but as the temperatures began to climb, I think the sudden change from frosty nights to full sunny days took their toll.

I’ve moved it out of the sun and am keeping it well watered. There are reasons to be hopeful, but I’m not sure whether this one is going to come back to me.

That’s it for this week. See you next time, and thanks for looking at my #SixonSaturday